Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs

Policy recommendations

Rising labour shortages reflect structural shifts, including the digital and green transitions, as well as a cyclical component in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The policy debate tends to focus on the need for skills and, where they are deemed to be missing, on bringing in those skills through immigration and mobility. Most discussions ignore the role of job quality, even though labour shortages have increased most and are worst in jobs with lower wages and worse conditions.
Tight labour markets can provide workers with opportunities, to some extent making up for the slow erosion of workers’ bargaining power over time. Indeed, this can lead to higher wages, better conditions and higher equality of wages overall.
It is now necessary to support workers and sectors in improving conditions. This can be done by embracing higher minimum standards on wages and quality of work. This aspect should not be neglected.

Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs - European Economic, Employment and Social Policy, 2023 DOWNLOAD

ITUC Global Rights Index 2018: The World’s Worst Countries for Workers

Publications

The 2018 ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 142 countries on a scale from 1-5 based on the degree of respect for workers’ rights with 1 being the best rating and 5 the worst rating. Violations are r...Read More

TAGS: Global

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Publications

Gender-based violence (GBV) against women is a human rights violation and is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality. GBV is globally prevalent, takes multiple forms and affects women throughout their life cycle, irrespective of income lev...Read More

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2017 OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct SUMMARY REPORT

PublicationsEvents

When: June 29, 2017 – June 30, 2017 all-day

The OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct held on 29-30 June 2017 gathered participants from governments, businesses, trade unions and civil society to discuss responsible supply chains through due diligence; driving responsible institutional investment; the role of National Contact...

TAGS: Global

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Around the world, something in the region of 40 million innocent men, women and even children have been forced into various forms of modern slavery. Many are here in the UK. Still more are abroad. All are victims of a vile business that has no place...Read More

TAGS: Europe